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Symptoms

What are the symptoms of a vestibular disorder?

The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that help control balance and eye movements. If the system is damaged by disease, aging, or injury, vestibular disorders can result, and are often associated with one or more of these symptoms, among others:

The type and severity of vestibular disorder symptoms can vary considerably, and be frightening and difficult to describe. People affected by vestibular disorders may be perceived as inattentive, lazy, overly anxious, or seeking attention. Functioning at work or school, performing routine daily tasks, or just getting out of bed in the morning may be difficult.

The following is a list of symptoms that have been reported by people with vestibular disorders. Not all symptoms will be experienced by every person, and other symptoms are possible.

Vertigo and dizziness

Spinning or whirling sensation; a feeling the person or world moving when it is not (vertigo)

Symptoms can be present while sitting still, in specific positions, or with movement

Lightheaded, floating, or rocking sensation (dizziness)

Sensation of being heavily weighted or pulled in one direction

Balance and spatial orientation

Imbalance, stumbling, difficulty walking straight or when turning

Clumsiness or difficulty with coordination

Difficulty maintaining straight posture; head may be tilted to the side

Tendency to look downward to confirm the location of the ground

Tendency to touch or hold onto something when standing, or to touch or hold the head while seated

Sensitivity to changes in walking surfaces or footwear

Difficulty walking in the dark

Muscle and joint pain (due to difficulty balancing)

Vision

Trouble focusing or tracking objects with the eyes; objects or words on a page seem to jump, bounce, float, or blur or may appear doubled

Discomfort from busy visual environments such as traffic, crowds, stores, and patterns

Sensitivity to light, glare, and moving or flickering lights; fluorescent lights may be especially troublesome

Psychological

Other

Nausea or vomiting

"Hangover" or "seasick" feeling in the head

Motion sickness

Sensation of fullness in the ears

Ear pain

Headaches

Slurred speech

An inner ear disorder may be present even when there are no obvious or severe symptoms. It is important to note that most of these individual symptoms can also be caused by other unrelated conditions and should be discussed with a health professional.

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Thanks to VeDA, vestibular disorders are becoming recognized for their impacts on people's lives and our economy. We see new diagnostic tools and research studies, more accessible treatments, and a growing respect for how life-changing vestibular disorders can be.

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